Window screen



NOV 1 1932' R. A. NoRQUlsT -r A1. 1,885975 WINDOW SCREEN Filed Aug. 28, 1929 5 Z if :a 12 y@ 7 all* 55 5943-4 45 5f, ze/Ei.

Patented Nov. l, 1932 isaias- RALPI- A. NORQUST AND GLENN H. NORQUIST, OE JAMESTWN, rNEW YORK WINDOW sonnen p Application filed lAugust 28, 1929. Serial No. 389,029. i

This invention relates to Window screens of the rolling type andV has for Yits object the provision of an improved guide and improved means for engaging theV guide and maintaining the engagement of the edges of the screen with the guides. lt is also an'obj ect l of the invention to provide a. vnovel latch mechanism whereby the screen may be retained in its lowered position and which mechanism may bevery cheaply and expeditiously produced. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and consists in certain novel features which will be hereinafter first fully described and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken along the axis of the winding drum,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View through the latch mechanism,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, the line 2 2 in Fig. 3 indieating the plane of the section shown in Fig 2, i

Fig. Liis a of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a section through the guide.

The invention is applicable to any window frame. ln applying the invention, there is provided a box or case 2 otrectangular cross section whereby it may tit closely against the lintel of the window frame and against the front bead von said frame.V lThe case ispreierably formed of sheet metal, and has a slot in its bottom through which the screen may pass to be wound and unwound. The ends of the longitudinal walls of the casing are formed with tongues, as shown at 5 in Fig. 1, which are inserted through slots provided therefor in the end walls orplates 6 and bent down so as to be clinched against saidfend plat-es. The end plates are provided along three Aedges with fianges 7 whereby they will center the case, the flanges being omitted at the lower corners ofthe plates and the plates detail section on the line 4:-4

` being extended downwardly to provide tongues 8 through which fastening devices may be inserted into the sides of the window iframe to secure the box or case yin place. It

ot the connection so that the case may be easily'tted into position within the window frame and will not come apart as long as the window frame remains intact. t

rllhe central portion' of each end plate vis pressed laterally to form a boss 9 which, when the parts are assembled, extends inwardly and constitutes `a bearing for the winding drum shown at 10. The drum is provided adjacent each end with projections or teats 11 pressed inwardly and constituting stops to resist endwise movement of the drum. Y Against the outer side of each set of teats 11, a washer 12 is `fitted to the drum so as to be disposed between the teats and the respective bosses'9 and thereby maintain the relation of the parts. The washers and the bosses are provided with Vaxially alined openings to receive the winding rod 13 which is fitted rotatablyand slidably therein. At one end, the left hand end in Fig. 1, a pin 14 is inserted through the end of the rod andthe vcoacting boss 9 is provided with'diametrically opposite, lugs or notchesl within which the ends ofl the pin seat to prevent relative rotation of the rod, while' at the opposite end the rod is formed with a diametrical notch 16 adapted to be engaged by a screw driver or similar turning tool. rlhe Winding spring 17 is coiled around the winding rod and at its inner end is extended through the rod, as shown 'at'18,

whereby it is secured to the rod. t The opposite end of the spring is carried outwardly lthrough a slot or notch 19 in the adjacentV the screen is preferably rolled around a stout wire or light rod, as shown at 28, one of these rods being provided at each lower corner of the screen so that the corners will. be held against curling and will move easily through the side guides. t,

The rail 25l extends downwardly below the lower end ofthe screen and the material of the rail is so bent as to present coacting jaws .29 forming a slot 30 in which may be engaged the upper edge ofy a strip 31 of felt or other cushioning material whereby the screen may be brought Vinto close engagement with lthe sill of the window and' at the same time avoid marring of highly finished sills. One objection to metal window screens heretofore, especially of the rolling type, has been the difiiculty of maintaining a close joint between the lower end of the lowered screen and the window sill so that the joint would be proof against the entrance of flies or other insects. The present arrangement very effectually overcomes this objection'. raising and lowering of the screen, handles 32 of any convenient form are secured upon the rail 25, as shown. j 4

The rail 25, as has been said, is constructed of sheetmetal and is preferably rolledor bent or stamped from a single blank. In the completed rail, the front and rear walls thereof are doubled, spaces being provided to receive the branches 4ofa slide which is adapted to ride in the guides or rails 33 secured to thev sides of the'window frame.` The guides are also constructed of sheet metal and present mating side platesor aws 34, as shown clearly .in Fig. 5, the inner edges of the jaws being somewhat enlarged to provide beads 35, between which the screenV passes, and present convex surfaces to the ,screen so that wear of the same will be minimized. The guides are formed with lateral flanges 36 through which securing devices are inserted into the window frame. The slides which have been mentioned are also formed of sheet metal and presenta body portion 38 formed by bending a blank transversely at its middle whereby the slide 4will begiven the form of two leaves joined' together at their outer ends and adapted toV pass through the slot or openingbetween the aws of theguide and travel along the same. The leaves or branches of the slide are expanded laterally somewhat be To facilitate the between the inner and outer walls of the rail 25, as shown clearly at 40y in Fig. 3. The resiliency of the branches or leaves of the slide will cause it to frictionally engage the walls of the rail'with sufficient force to be positively retained in the rail. Each slide is provided in the branches of its body portion with protuberances or blisters 4l struck therefrom near theirupper edges and in their lower portions they are provided with slots 42 in which are seated balls 43 of such relative diameters that they project through the slots j in the opposite sides of the slide but are prevented Aby the width of the slots from escaping therethrough. Vhen the slide `is properly engaged within the guide, the protub'erances 4l will engage the side walls of the guide sufficiently to avoid twisting of the screen or of the rail while the balls will bear against the walls of the guide with sufficient friction to maintain the screen in the position to which it may be lowered, and to enhance this fric? tional engagement the guide may have one wall spring tempered so that it will tend to bind upon the ball when the screen is notin motion but will yield .suflicientlyto permit a smooth easy movement when the screen is being raised' or lowered. A

.It is obvious that when the screen is lowered the winding s pring will be wound and the tension thereof increased so that it will tend to at once rewind and raise the screen.

The formation of the rail 25 provides a cross web 44 and within the space defined by this cross web and theinner side walls of the rail we mount latch mechanism whereby the screen will be held in its fully lowered position positively and against the action 0f the wind. ing spring. a base 45 in the form of a channel member resting at its side edges upon the inwardly projecting beads formed upon the walls of the rail at 29this arrangement being showny mostclearly in Fig. 4. The inner end of this channeled base member is formed withvan upstanding tongue 46 which provides anl This latch mechanism comprises member at the outer end of the same is a latch v consisting of a light bar bent to provide a portion 48 which extends longitudinally of thebase member 45 between the walls of the rail and has its rear end bentlaterally to provide an abutment 49 against which the 'front end ofthe spring 47'bears.f The outer portion of the bar is bent to provide al transverse shoulder 50 at'the outer end of the portion 48 and then extends inwardly or laterally, as at 51,' parallel with the portion 48 and terminates in a thumb piece 52.v The shoulder 50 passes through an opening provided therefor in the slide 38, as shown in Fig. 3, and' is V adapted to fit within a notch 53 formed in the edge of the front member or wall of the guide 33, as shown in Figs. l and 3, so that the premature raising of the screen will be positively prevented. It, oi course, will involve no departure from the invention to provide additional notches at various points in the guide so that, it desired, the screen may be held partly lowered but such arrangement will not ordinarily be employed inasmuch as the primary purpose of the screen is to prevent the entrance of insects into a room. lt is, however, sometimes desired to have a screen partly raised temporarily for various reasons and we may sometimes provide a plurality of notches to accommodate users desiring vthe same.

Upon referring to Fig. 1 it will be noted that a bushing or sleeve- 54 is providedupon one end oi the winding rod 13 within the coils of the winding spring. vThis bushing Y serves to properly ycenter the spring with respect to the winding rod and the coils of the spring engage the 'bushing so closely as to prevent the coils expanding in such a manner as to release the end of the spring from the Winding drum.

lWhen the screen is to be applied to a window, the tension of the winding spring may be easily adjusted by engaging a screw driver in the notch 16 and then exerting suliicient pressure to move the winding rod endwise so that the locking pin 14C will `be beyond the range of the lugs or notches 15. The rod may then be easily rotated so that the spring may be set at the desired tension and when the proper tension has been attained the spring is permitted to return the rod to the position shown in Fig. l.

It will be understood,` of course, that, in f order to permit raising of the screen, the thumb pieces 52 of the latches are pressed inwardly, and the handles 32 are arranged adjacent the latches so that they may beV easily grasped at the same time that the latches are released by exerting pressure upon the thumb pieces. The balls ride easily within the guides but the edges oi the' guidesV are pressed toward each other, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, so that they will positively prevent the balls passing through the sides of the guides and, consequently, the screen will beheld within the guides at all times and the edges of the same will be guarded against breakage. The resiliency of the guides will cause them to closely embrace the edges of the screen'and prevent the same rattling in high winds.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

Vl. In a rolling window screen, the combination with a screen, of guides engaging the side edges of the same and including mating i jaws between the edges of which thev screen passes, slides carried by the lower corners of the screen and extending into the guides, and

rolling balls mounted within said slides to travel between the' jaws of the guides and having diameters greater than the distance between the edges of. the jaws to span the in the walls of the rail at the end thereof with the outer portion of the slide fitting in the adjacent guide, and a ball itted between'and projecting through the branches of the slide within the guide. 'f Y 3; ln a rolling screen, guides for the side edges ol ythe same,a rail secured to the lower end 'of the screen and having a vhollow body, slides frictionally engaged in the ends of said rail and yprojecting therefrom to lit within the respective guides, and latches mounted within theends ofthe rail between the sides of the slides and having portions projecting through the slides to engage notches in the guides, the notch-engaging portions of the latches constituting transverse shoulders and the terminal portions of the latches eXtend- I RALPH A. Noneuisr. [as] GLENN H. NonQUrsr. [es] f 

